Fell In Love With My Roomy Chapter 49

I can't recall anything from the weekend. On Sunday, I stayed holed up in my room, dedicating the day to perfecting my project. I intentionally took the day off work to ensure I could focus.

I knew I hadn't treated Kent well on Saturday. I had been intoxicated and had let out all my frustrations on him. I yearned for a return to the way things used to be. I enjoyed our conversations, and it bothered me that he was distant when I knew he could be different.

Then there was Chase, and the whole situation was driving me insane. I couldn't fathom what I had done to make him kiss me like that.

Last night, sleep eluded me as my mind swirled with worries and thoughts. I couldn't comprehend how guys were complicating my life, but they were. Back at home, I didn't have any guys interested in me, and I preferred it that way. Now, I had to navigate Kent, Chase, and even Dane. On top of that, I had to give a presentation about my thesis.

I had no choice but to put them all on the backburner until I could complete my schoolwork. Even if I desperately sought answers or assistance, I couldn't handle both school and drama simultaneously.

I deliberately scheduled my presentation early to get it over with. I paced around my room, reviewed my notes, and began getting ready.

I followed my usual morning routine, tending to my hair and makeup, and donning an outfit I had chosen the previous night. It might have been a bit plain, but having control over my morning routine helped calm my nerves before something important. I wore black tights with a longer black skirt and tucked in a well-fitting white dress shirt. I retrieved my sweater vest from the closet and zipped up my black leather boots.

I aimed for a mature and professional appearance to command respect. In my closet, I found my long overcoat and packed my shoulder bag with my laptop, cue cards, a USB stick with backups, outlines, and a water bottle. As I opened my door, I noticed a sticky note attached to it.

"Good luck today ~K."

Was this Kent's doing? I thought he was upset with me given our current situation, and I knew I had done something to deeply upset him over the weekend. It was a thoughtful gesture, one of my favorites from him when he tried to make amends. I tucked the note into my pocket to keep it with me and saw Mark in the kitchen as I walked down the hall.

"Hey, Julianna," he greeted, and I nodded in response. "Today's the big day for your presentation."

"Yeah, how do I look?" I asked, genuinely wanting his opinion. "Professional enough?"

"Absolutely," he reassured me with a thumbs-up. "You're going to nail it." He smiled and offered a fist bump.

"Alright, I should get going. I want to be punctual and all," I said, giving him a shrug, to which he nodded.

"Sure, see you later tonight," he added, and as I stepped out the door, I waved goodbye.

Nervousness consumed me, making it impossible to eat, and coffee would only heighten my tension. My heart pounded in my ears, my mouth went dry, and I couldn't stop trembling. I wouldn't find peace until it was all over.

But I had to trust in my research. I had collaborated with my professor, put in hard work all summer, and practiced diligently. My interest lay in understanding how sexism had evolved due to Western culture's treatment of women, driven more by curiosity than staunch feminism.

For instance, before Europeans arrived in North America, many Native American communities were matriarchal. Women held leadership roles, deciding who to be with while men vied for their affection. Divorce and lengthy courtships were commonplace. When Europeans settled in America, their way of life became the societal norm.

Numerous examples like this fascinated me. I only hoped I had an attentive audience reviewing my work. I had dedicated my entire summer to reach this point, and I couldn't bear it if someone disliked or disagreed with my findings.

Upon arriving at my building, I head towards one of the smaller theaters located at the back. Typically, these spaces were used for seminars and advanced classes, with one reserved for honors presentations on this particular day.

I choose to wait outside the theater, using this time to compose myself and practice deep breathing. "Julianna, stay calm," I remind myself.

A fellow student rushes out of the theater, his face flushed with frustration. I recognize him, but I can't recall where or which class we shared.

"Hey," I greet him warmly, and he lets out a sigh.

"Are you up next?" he asks, and I confirm that I am. "Good luck. They're making me overhaul a significant portion of my research, and it'll probably take until Christmas to get back on track." He walks away with frustration evident in his steps, leaving me gasping and shaking my head.

I hadn't wanted to hear that at all.

A few minutes later, the door opens, revealing another professor. My heart skips a beat.

"Are you Julianna Macey?" he inquires, and I confirm my identity. His smile provides some comfort. "Please come in," he invites, and I nod, following him inside.

Inside the room, five professors from various history departments scrutinize my work. I notice three men and two women among them, which sparks a glimmer of hope. I believe that my arguments about sexism might resonate more with the female professors. I've taken classes with three of them in the past, but I've kept my distance, a department policy designed to eliminate biases and focus solely on research.

Doctor Binkley, who supervised my research, sits discreetly at the back to observe. She had intended to sit beside me, offering a familiar face, but she's restricted to silently watching. She smiles at me, and I attempt to calm myself by taking a deep breath.

"Good morning, Julianna! How are you?" The professor who let me in takes his seat and holds his clipboard.

"I'm fine, thank you. How about all of you?" I inquire politely, seeking permission to set up my laptop.

"I'm doing well," he replies. "Every professor I've spoken to is doing fine."

I proceed to open my presentation slides on my laptop and connect it to the HDMI cable. It cooperates smoothly, and I nod as I retrieve my water and notes. My hands are trembling, and my stomach churns with anxiety, but I hope this will subside once I begin.

"We'll start whenever you're ready, and after that, we'll go over the plan with you," the professor informs me. I agree and take a deep breath before removing my jacket. Before setting it aside, I take my phone from the pocket and power it off to avoid any disruptions. A note from Kent, stuck to the back of my phone, comes loose, but I pay it no mind and leave my phone on the desk, obscured by a piece of paper.

"Okay, I'm all set," I say, and I can feel my voice quiver. I reassure myself that this nervousness will fade once I start speaking; I just have to get through the initial moments.

"Great. I'll introduce the panelists. I am Doctor Carlton, and joining me are Doctors Sutherland, Maizen, Rutford, and Prisk. We'll be evaluating your presentation to ensure its academic merit and that you're on the right track. Our intention is not to intimidate or make you feel uncomfortable; we're here to guide and assist you in every way possible," he explains, and I express my agreement with a nod.

"Does that sound alright?"

"Of course," I reply with a sigh, and he nods in response.

"Alright, let's see what you've got," he says, encouraging me to begin.

"Okay, good morning. My name is Julianna Macey," I introduce myself, and everyone nods, jotting notes in their notebooks. "I've been conducting research on a captivating topic that delves into the sociological aspect of history, and I'm thrilled to share my findings with you." I say a few more words and press the space bar to move to the next slide in my presentation.

Then, an unpleasant sound fills the room as the screen glitches, and the projector goes dark. "Oh... um—"

"It's okay, Julianna, technical glitches like this happen. This area isn't known for having the best technology," Doctor Carlton reassures me, and I nod, wiping my sweaty palms on my skirt. "Let's give it a moment and see if it restarts."

We waited for a few minutes, and anxiety began to creep up my spine. This was not how I had envisioned things going. I knew they would be interested in my PowerPoint presentation, filled with images and facts. Now, fear gripped me as I realized that I hadn't even started my presentation before it malfunctioned, and I felt on the verge of tears.

"I suppose we should contact tech support," Doctor Carlton suggested, sounding apologetic. "I'm sorry, Julianna, for taking up your time." I nodded in response, keeping my lips sealed.

My eyes then landed on the kind note left by Kent, still resting on the podium. I took a deep breath, refocusing my mind. I reminded myself of my resilience and strength, and I refused to let this glitch derail my presentation. I had considered all the potential pitfalls, and I wouldn't allow this setback to ruin things.

"In fact, Dr. Carlton," I began, attempting to steady my voice. "I have printed outlines of my presentation in my bag, so there's no need to call anyone."

"Oh, I wouldn't want to inconvenience you further," he replied, sounding understanding. I shook my head and disconnected my computer.

"I don't want to waste time, and my research remains the same with or without technology. I'm confident that no matter how I present it, I can do it justice," I asserted, flipping on the lights and moving my laptop and paper outlines to the front of the room. "I'll ensure I explain anything that may not be clear thoroughly."

I handed them the papers containing raw data and topics. They had already received the initial portion of my submitted data and had reviewed it in preparation for this presentation. Their surprised expressions caused me to release a tense breath as I positioned the table in front of their chairs and set up my laptop on it.

"Can all of you see it? I made the text quite large."

"Thank you, Julianna, that's appreciated," Doctor Carlton replied, smiling. "Please, tell us more about your work. I'm genuinely interested."

Then, it was as if everything fell into place. I felt as though I was back in my room, explaining the slides to my imaginary audience. I presented my ideas clearly, steadied my voice against nervousness, and maintained composure throughout the entire presentation.

Once I concluded, they posed numerous questions, all of which I answered with enthusiasm. I had thoroughly prepared and it paid off in more ways than one. As it wrapped up, they provided me with valuable feedback, just as I had expected.